Lip-Locked: The 19 Best Kisses in TV History

It often strikes without warning. The setup almost too flawless: a longing gaze, a tilt of the head, a casual laugh that slowly trails off, a flicker of the eyes… Sometimes, it’s influenced by things beyond our control: the ticking of a bomb. Close quarters in a limousine. Even plastic wrap.

Why it’s the beloved TV kiss, of course! You know, those things that makes us laugh and cry and gasp and even feel butterflies. This Valentine’s Day, TVLine is celebrating the art of the lip lock by presenting a gallery of the best kisses from primetime’s past and present — including video so you can re-live your favorites from series including Bones, Nashville, Lost and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Don’t see your favorite kiss represented in the gallery below? While we tried to include the best of the best (our lips are sore just thinking about it), we’re sure we missed a few smooches along the way. So hit the comments and let us know which romantic clinch we missed!

Ross and Rachel was one of the first couples I really rooted for when I was growing up, that first kiss was pretty epic. Still is when I catch it on TV. They are each others lobster. Nothing more needs to be said.

Yes! same here. As soon as I started reading the list I was hoping to find them here. Although I prefer the kiss that came in the lobster episode, After they watched the prom video. I had goosbumps and a huge smile on my face when I watched it for the first time (Can’t believe I still remember it, considering I was 10 years old at the time, lol)

Yea seriously I watched pretty much all of those and NO couple on this list has stirred up so many emotions in me the way Nick and Jess did. The way Nick grabbed her and how they were both just “nailing” each other’s mouths was super hot. Even the set up for the kiss was 100x better than most of these. If not better than all of them. I don’t watch the show anymore as passionately as I used to but c’mon. The Mindy and Danny kiss made me cringe how was it better?

It’s not a competition, besides some New Girl fans are acting like they have to rag on Mindy/Danny for some reason. Somebody wrote a piece saying the TMP kiss was hotter and you guys got bent out of shape about it big time. That kiss was objectively hot. If it made you cringe, I don’t see how you could’ve reacted well to Nick/Jess. Undeniable heat in both cases.

See this is where you’re wrong. I love TMP. I loved this season way more than New Girl as well as many other people BUT that does not mean New Girl’s Cooler should be put behind because that episode was epic. In New Girl, Nick kissed Jess after the whole episode was them being forced to kiss and then at the end Nick making a move because he did not want it to be a game. I just thought the whole set up was genius whereas in TMP the kiss did not make as much sense. TMP did a great job with their comedy this season but not really with the whole Mindy/Danny stuff, unlike New Girl’s season 2. And just because New Girl had a worse 3rd season that does not mean that episode should be overlooked, which I’m assuming is the only reason the kiss did not make the list. Do not think that I’m slamming on TMP because trust me if the show gets cancelled, I will be very sad. I just don’t think Mindy and Danny look/work as good together as Nick and Jess do.

I completely agree about Nick and Jess, would have thought New Girl would be popular enough for people to know that one! Veronica and Logan is one of my favorites if not the favorite. Unfortunately Veronica Mars isn’t as popular as it should be, people are missing out!

They have their heads together, they could as well be kissing. Mitchell and Cam are shown in a group photo, mid-gag. Which is ironic, given how a whole fan campaign was necessary to have them kiss in the first place…

Totally agree, but Im also still bitter that Brenda and Dylan broke up and he went for her best friend. Not sure how anyone rooted for either of these couples?? Brenda/Dylan kiss should of made this list too!

Pacey and Joey had a lot more chemistry together. I like the build up to what came out to be one of the best relationships on tv. I mean since Katie and Josh did have a relationship off set, thatprobably helped. Oh, I wish a network would air Dawson Creek reruns again. Pacey/Joey forever! Dawson and Joey were always meant to be friends.

I agree. I never remotely saw any kind of sexual chemistry between Dawson and Joey. Even before the Pacey storyline came, I always thought they would end up as just friends. It always seemed like harmless school age puppy love to me. But Brenda and Dylan? Yes!

Oh please. Dawson and Joey were never anything more than best friends that tried to build a romantic relationship on that and failed. I loved them as friends, but they made zero sense as a romantic relationship, especially since they had no chemistry.

Vaughn and Sydney! WOW! I totally forgot! I actually have this on DVD. This episode (or scene) may or may not be the most watched out of them all. I love Vaughn…super hawt. I might have to have a mini marathon on Sunday, thanks for the reminder.

Agreed. That was one of the most perfect moments in television history. I was rooting for those two from day one, and that kiss was something the fans had been waiting for for so, so long. The writers expertly built the tension there, without making one of the best shows on television succumb to the lame will they/won’t they trap so many other shows fall into (like “Bones” has done over the past few seasons).

For my money, though, the best kiss in television history will always be Jim and Pam. And actually, they have so many perfect ones, it’s kinda hard to pick just one. The kiss at their wedding…when the Dr tells them they are going to have a baby, when Jim finally tells Pam he loves her…I can’t think of another television couple that felt so effortless…like they really and truly belonged together. OH! And speaking of “The Office”…what about Dwight and Angela’s kiss after she tells him the baby is his?! Or Michael and Holly when they try and sneak away from the camera crew? Or when he proposes to her? “The Office”, as cliche as it sounds, has helped me *want* to fall in love again. :)

I’m still trying to figure out how Nasville made this list, but not Logan and Veronica, Sydney and Vaughn, Buffy and Spike, Nick and Jess, even Damon and Elana ( who I personally don’t care for, but I know they were a big deal) but somehow Deacon and Rayna made the list, you’ve got to be kidding me.

You say “Greys Anatomy”, but there is no kiss from the show on the list… And they had some good kisses… Community’s Annie and Jeff season 1 finale kiss was also sweet though it didn’t lead to the great love story we all wanted… How about Ted and Robin’s (HIMYM)season 1 finale kiss after he made it rain… Jimmy and Sabrina’s first kiss was charming (Raising Hope)…

@Lubomir Raykov – totally agree – not one kiss from Grey’s Anatomy? When I think of Owen & Cristina, all I think of are their hot & very steamy sex scenes/kisses – how hot? So hot my tv was smokin’ …. :-)

How the @#*! is Sam and Diane’s first kiss on Cheers (in Sam’s office) not on this list? No way you’re going to tell me that a Gossip Girl kiss was more memborable than the two marquee characters on one of TV’s most successful sitcoms.

YES! Sam and Diane’s first kiss should absolutely be on this list. But then again this site has to cater to the young millennials, who have no appreciation for classic television. Cheers reruns are still better than almost anything on TV today.

The two best kisses ever for Castle is really in Season 3 and Season 4.24 “Always”, can’t stop every now and then watch 4.24, love the way how he pushes her to the door, I think it was long over due, but nothing happens before its time. The kisses we get nowadays are just “press on kisses”, I wish we can get more sloppy kisses…..but then again thats just me……lol

THIS! SETH annd SUMMER’s episode was repeated the next week because the episode was so highly rated. it’s the highest rated episode of the series. I loved Chuck and Blair but this OC clip shoulda been on the list instead

Zoe and Wade in the season 1 finale where he just walks in wearing that suit and walks her up against the wall and kisses the daylights out of her. Whew. I’m going to need a minute just remembering that scene. /fans self

An addendum to my original reply. House fans think you missed the boat by not including the kiss between House and Cuddy in either “Joy” or “Help Me”, especially the latter. That kiss in “Help Me” was one of the most amazing endings of a TV episode in recent memory. Even now it still gives people goosebumps watching it!!!

Well it seems Catrina that you have not watched any TV before 2004 (when House started airing) to say the Castle/Beckett kiss was a rip off. According to your logic, every single kiss in this gallery is a rip off from some other show.